IT consultant jailed for tax fraud

An IT consultant who lied about his earnings to avoid paying tax of more than £170,000 has been jailed.

Hamauon Khan, 46, also known as Billy Khan and Billy Love, was sentenced after an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation proved he had failed to declare his earnings.

Khan claimed he was unemployed for at least six years, in an attempt to avoid paying tax and National Insurance contributions of more than £170,000. The investigation revealed that he had actually been working as a self-employed IT consultant since 2004.

Joint investigations with the Child Support Agency revealed he also failed to pay child maintenance payments for which he was also jailed.

Instead of paying his tax and child support, he spent the money to fund his lifestyle and purchased two properties – including his current home.

Colin Spinks, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said:

“Khan has to pay the price for his deliberate attempts to steal money from UK taxpayers – money that could have been used to fund vital public services.

“Tax fraud will not be tolerated by HMRC and we urge anyone with information about those committing this type of crime to call our hotline on 0800 59 5000.”

Khan was arrested in 2013 and pleaded guilty to the offences on 4 September 2015. On 23 June 2016 at Lewes Crown Court he was jailed for four years; two years for the tax fraud and two years for the child support offences.

Sentencing Khan, Her Honour Judge Laing QC, said:

“For a period of nine years through sheer greed you failed to pay tax. Cheating the Revenue is a very serious offence. There has been sheer greed for a substantial period and you have used the money for your own benefit for a lavish lifestyle and foreign holidays.”

Confiscation will be sought to recover the proceeds of his crimes.

Notes for editors

1. Hamauon Khan,DOB 04/03/70, of Grace Road, Crawley, Sussex, has been jailed for a total of four years. Two years for Cheating the Public Revenue, contrary to Common Law - for tax fraud offences; and two years for Fraud by false representation, contrary to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006 - for failing to pay child maintenance payments of £48,094.47 to his former-partner for their child.
2. This was a joint investigation by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Child Support Agency (CSA), part of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
3. Anyone with information about tax fraud can call our hotline on 0800 59 5000 or report it online at: https://www.gov.uk/topic/dealing-with-hmrc/tax-compliance
4. A photo of the defendant can be found on HMRC’s Flickr channel www.flickr.com/hmrc.gov.uk
5. Follow the HMRC press office on Twitter @HMRCpressoffice